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Deadweight Loss in Pricing
hard

Which of the following statements correctly describe the implications of deadweight loss in a monopolistically competitive market? Select all that apply.

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Choose the Best Answer

A

Deadweight loss indicates that the market fails to allocate resources efficiently.

B

Monopolists can eliminate deadweight loss by reducing their prices to the equilibrium level.

C

Higher prices set by firms can lead to a decrease in consumer surplus and an increase in producer surplus.

D

Deadweight loss is only relevant in perfectly competitive markets and does not apply to monopolistic competition.

E

The presence of deadweight loss suggests that there is potential for improving overall economic welfare.

Understanding the Answer

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Answer

Deadweight loss in a monopolistically competitive market happens when the price of a product is higher than its marginal cost, which means that fewer people buy the product than would if it were priced lower. This loss occurs because the company has some control over its prices and does not produce at the most efficient level, leading to a situation where potential gains from trade are not realized. For example, if a coffee shop charges $5 for a cup of coffee but it costs only $3 to make, some customers who would be willing to pay $4 might not buy it, causing a deadweight loss. In this way, both consumers and the producer miss out on possible benefits, resulting in a less efficient market overall. Understanding deadweight loss helps us see why competition is important for keeping prices fair and maximizing benefits for everyone.

Detailed Explanation

All the statements misunderstand how deadweight loss works in monopolistic competition. Other options are incorrect because This option suggests that deadweight loss means resources are not used well; This option implies that lowering prices can remove deadweight loss.

Key Concepts

Deadweight Loss
Monopolistic Competition
Allocative Efficiency
Topic

Deadweight Loss in Pricing

Difficulty

hard level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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